Written by Emily Upton - Posted Sept. 15, 2023
Constitution Day is around the corner (September 17th), and it's the perfect time to dive into some exciting lessons about the backbone of our country – the United States Constitution. Since it's required to teach about the Constitution each year by all public schools, it can be hard to come up with new ideas that your students haven't done before. Avoid the eye rolls and vacant stares and use these fresh lesson ideas to keep your students engaged this year!
Preamble Party: Activities to Break Down the Preamble
Hearing the formal English used in the Constitution can sound like a foreign language to your students. The Preamble sets the tone for the Constitution, and helping your students understand it is key for your Constitution Day lessons! Here are some ideas to break it down into kid-friendly terms:
- Use context clues to decode the meaning of the Preamble. Start by reading through the Preamble together and predicting what each part means. To help students understand the meaning of the formal words, play this SchoolHouse Rock Preamble video. Students can rewrite each part of the Preamble using the images from the videos. I recommend pausing it to give them a chance to discuss each part in small groups.
- After they understand the meaning, challenge your students to put the Preamble back together with this Preamble puzzle from the Constitution Center! Teams can race to be the first to accurately assemble their puzzle.
Constitutional Timeline: Understanding the History of Constitution Day
- Short on time? Use this no-prep activity to teach your students about the history of Constitution Day and why it matters with this crack-the-code reading comprehension activity! Your students will love watching the code cipher puzzle unravel as they correctly answer comprehension questions.
- Create a timeline of events leading to the Constitution's birth. Think Boston Tea Party, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation. Add some drawings and brief explanations to make it pop and keep your students engaged. If you're looking for activities to teach about the causes of the American Revolution and how it connects to the writing of the Constitution, this is a great resource!
Constitutional Day Events
- Join the live Constitution Day program hosted by iCivics! This free program offers insight into what happened during the Constitutional Convention, told by special guests George Washington and James Madison themselves. (Check out the entire iCivics website for games, lesson plans, and more related to Constitution Day!)
- The Bill of Rights Institute also has a live program and lesson plans that can make the Constitution come alive for your students!
Constitution Day doesn't have to be just another mandatory thing on your to-do list. It's a chance to show your 3rd to 5th graders that history can be exciting and relevant. These fun lesson ideas will help your students understand the Constitution and inspire them to be active, informed citizens who appreciate the awesomeness of this historic document. Happy Constitution Day, everyone!📜🎉
